Archbishop turns spotlight on drought, infant deaths

While wishing Christians on the eve of Easter, Archbishop of Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias called for citizens to address the problems of the drought in the state and of death of infants in public hospitals in the city.

“Our focus should be on ‘saving the farmer campaign’ due to an ominous threat of drought in our state that could lead to famine and suicide,” said Cardinal Gracias in his Easter message.

“Steps should be taken on a war footing to adopt measures such as water harvesting and special drives to collect funds for immediate relief,” he added.

“Another area that needs our immediate attention is the death of infants in our public hospitals owing to gross negligence of civic authorities in the city,” he said.

Christians in the city will observe Easter on Sunday to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Governor K Sankaranarayanan greeted the community for the occasion. “May the pure and selfless life of Jesus Christ inspire us to tread the path of love and truth with determination, and may it bring peace and happiness to one and all. I extend my hearty greetings to all on the occasion of Easter,” he said in a press release.

The East Indian community in the city has taken up the cause of 'fighting injustice' on Easter.

The Mobai Gaothan Panchayat (MGP), an East Indian body, has called for community members to speak against the marginalisation of the group.

“In recent months the East Indian Community has been at the receiving end with notices on Holy Crosses, marking of some Gaothans as slums and a rise in property taxes,” said MGP spokesperson Alphi D’souza.

“We have appealed to everyone in the East Indian Community this Easter, to rise up and speak out against the injustice towards the community.”